Voter identification initiative certified in Nevada for November ballot

A Nevada initiative that would require photo identification to vote was certified for the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot.

On July 19, county officials announced that 131,590 signatures were verified out of the 179,000 signatures submitted. In order for the constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, 102,362 valid signatures were required.

The initiative would require that Nevada residents present a form of photo identification to verify their identity while voting in person. Acceptable forms of photo identification would include a driver’s license, an identification card issued by the state or federal government, employee photo identification issued by the government, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military card, a student photo identification card issued by a Nevada public college, a tribal photo identification card, a Nevada concealed firearms permit, or another form of government-issued photo identification the state legislature may approve.

If a voter is voting by mail, they would have to verify their identity using the last four digits of their driver’s license or social security number or the number provided by the county clerk when the voter is registered to vote if the voter does not have a driver’s license or social security number.

In support of the amendment, the Nevada Republican Party chairman, Michael J. McDonald, said, “The initiative to require photo identification or secure personal information for voting purposes is crucial for maintaining the integrity and transparency of our electoral system.”

In opposition to the amendment, Silver State Voices executive director Emily Persaud-Zamora said, “The proposed voter ID measure would dramatically change our voting system and complicate voting for individuals in our communities … Voter ID laws disproportionately impact voters of color and do nothing to make our elections more secure.”

In order for the amendment to go into effect, Nevada voters will have to approve the amendment in two subsequent general elections—2024 and 2026.

Currently, 35 states require voters to present identification to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require photo identification, and 11 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 15 states do not require voters to present identification to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Seven states voted on ballot measures to enact voter ID requirements. Of the seven, six were approved and one was rejected in Minnesota in 2012. The last state to vote on a photo identification ballot measure was Nebraska, when voters approved Initiative 432 by 65.45%-34.55% on Nov. 8, 2022.